Turning Your Lawn Into The Envy Of The Neighborhood
Landscaping is an art form that requires the proper balance of planning and technique to do well. Your canvas is the yard around your home. Once you learn some basic techniques, you should be able to do almost anything that you want with your yard. Read on for some basic tips about how to landscape.
When planning a landscaping project for your home, be sure that you try to completely estimate all of the costs involved. This is critical. Not only do you want to make sure that you are not stuck on a project that you cannot finish, but you also will be able to plan out what materials you need before going to the store.
Rather than doing too many landscaping jobs at the same time, it is wise to do one project at a time. If you take on too many projects, you are going to end up spending too much money all at once. Taking on one at a time means you can better afford each project.
If you are tired of seeing your beloved plants trampled by visitors, consider adding a footpath. Use brick, stone or wood to create a path that extends well beyond the boundaries of the area you wish to protect. A well-defined, wide path makes it clear which areas are safe as well as, which should not be trodden upon.
Befriend your neighbors. You might be able to share costs when you rent equipment or buy large quantities of landscaping supplies together. Offer to help your neighbors with their landscaping project and they will probably help you with yours. Let people borrow your tools and talk about creating a common tool collection.
Create a plan. Before you pick up a shovel, map everything out on paper. Your plan can range in complexity from a quick sketch to a highly detailed proposal. Be sure to include the features in your garden that you want to keep, and then make several copies of the plan. Use these copies to design a number of different options for your garden, including various types of beds and hard scape.
Utilize the Internet and mail-order catalogs in order to buy what you need for your landscaping project. Both of these sources are more likely to have rare plants and other products that area stores don't carry. You may also find a good deal, but be careful to pay attention to shipping costs before you purchase.
Before you decide on a landscape plan, be sure to consider the amount of maintenance it will require. Depending on the plants you use and the climate you live in, you could need to water your lawn everyday. Additionally, some grasses may require you to cut your lawn more than once per week. Be sure you have the time to care for your new lawn.
Do not assume you're stuck with a boring, dead landscape in the winter. Look for ways to add splashes of color to your lawn. Brightly colored furniture, berry-producing woody shrubs, evergreens, and attractive hard scape designs, like pathways, can all keep your yard interesting when everything else is grey and brown.
If you are adding archways, or pergolas to your yard, make sure that they are tall enough. A good average height is 8 feet. If you make an archway too short, people will not be able to walk underneath it and enjoy it. If you make it too tall, it can look overwhelming, and out of place.
You may be able to save some money by sticking with a square or rectangular patio or garden, but the money that you save could be lessening the appeal of the area. It may be in your best interest to spend a little more to add some attractive shapes so you are happier with the finished product.
A great landscaping tip that anyone can use is to layer your flower beds. Generally, you want to use about three rows with the tallest plants in back and the shortest in front. This strategy, coupled with some decorative stones is an excellent way to make your landscape look wonderful.
If you do not have a very large backyard but you want to spice it up, you may want to add in a garden fountain. Unlike their full pond or winding waterfall counterparts, a garden fountain will not take up much room and they are not too expensive to put in.
Before you pick out the plant species to use in any particular flower bed, take the time to determine its sun exposure. How much or how little shade a bed gets makes a big difference in what plants will do best in it. Facing is also important. A spot on the west side of your house will get very different exposure to the sun than one on the east side.
The tips you just read should help you design your first landscape. Start planning what you want to do with your yard and then go out there and do it. There's always more to learn about landscaping, but the best way to start is to experiment, and there's no better time than now to begin.